Smoking on oil rigs...

[tinman0]

Our political elite tinkering with things as normal:

Apparently there will be no smoking ban on oil rigs:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4335683.stm

Unless you work on the oil rig:

www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile35/

[nel]

Hehe - just as well, as the last thing you want people doing is smoking outside on an oil rig - very strictly verboten because of ignition risk! And given that they have to live on the rig for up 4 weeks at time, it would be an incitement to riot.

[h2dca]

nel said:

Hehe - just as well, as the last thing you want people doing is smoking outside on an oil rig - very strictly verboten because of ignition risk! And given that they have to live on the rig for up 4 weeks at time, it would be an incitement to riot.

You should go to Azerbaijan and see the blokes sitting around oil/gas producing wellheads keeping warm by open bonfires

[dilbert]

nel said:

Hehe - just as well, as the last thing you want people doing is smoking outside on an oil rig - very strictly verboten because of ignition risk! And given that they have to live on the rig for up 4 weeks at time, it would be an incitement to riot.

I suppose one could always have a cig whilst taking a dip in the North Sea!

[speedyman]

Nothing new, when I worked offshore (North sea)in the 80's there always was no smoking outside on the platform floor. Smoking allowed in the accomodation section though. That area has positive air pressure.

Worked on rigs in Africa to which were a lot less safe enviroments.

[danhay]

To be honest I don't know how they'd enforce a ban on rigs anyway, they're outside the 12 mile limit.

Which also means that cigs are duty free!

[andy4200]

I was on a rig in California for a small un-named independent operator. It was a gas well they were drilling and just before they finished the driller threw his cigarette down the well. I was a little bit shocked by that but it was quite early in my rig time. Not much surprises me any more.

[YarisSi]

speedyman said:

Nothing new, when I worked offshore (North sea)in the 80's there always was no smoking outside on the platform floor. Smoking allowed in the accomodation section though. That area has positive air pressure. Worked on rigs in Africa to which were a lot less safe enviroments.

What do you actually do on an oil rig. I always fancied it never known why. Is the pay good?

[nel]

Pay is very good, depending what your job is, but 12 hour shifts for 3 to 4 weeks stuck offshore in all kinds of weather is not great fun!

Working on the drill floor is fairly dangerous stuff - lots of big lumps of metal moving around, though modern rigs are becoming increasingly automated.

I never worked full time on them - just stayed offshore up to a week at a time trouble-shooting and doing technical studies. The worst bit is the helicopter trips back and forth from land. Damned uncomfortable, noisy and not a particularly reassuring way of travelling.

Could rattle on all night, but you've probably fallen asleep already...

[h2dca]

YarisSi said:

speedyman said: Nothing new, when I worked offshore (North sea)in the 80's there always was no smoking outside on the platform floor. Smoking allowed in the accomodation section though. That area has positive air pressure. Worked on rigs in Africa to which were a lot less safe enviroments. What do you actually do on an oil rig. I always fancied it never known why. Is the pay good?

Don't do it
Seriously depends on the person, if you are happy to be away from home for long periods then no problem, some jobs have rotations, some are adhoc home one minute then gone.
I enjoyed my time offshore though I never had set schedules, the banter is good, got paid well though onshore work is equal now to onshore £ for £ depending on jobs but if on rotation ie two weeks on two off you work half a year.
If you are under 30 and the life style would suit you go for it, if you have the right qualities, qualifications and secure the right job then foreign travel is an option with some nice places and some dumps. Bear in mind that the big markets at the moment are AsiaPac and unfortunately West of Africa, these may help

www.oilandgasjobsearch.com

www.oilcareers.com